Not Sure If I Should Stay In Daycare Or Quit

[LeslieG]

I was a daycare provider for 3 years before I had my first child. Yes, there were plenty of days that I had my patience tested and didn't like my job, but most days I liked what I did and could see myself doing daycare for many years.

After my son was born, I closed my daycare (because we were moving out of state) and took 18 months off of daycare. I was a stay-at-home mom during that time. I think that was hard for me because we were living in a new area (so didn't know many people) and I was dealing with slight postpartum depression.

So when my son was 18 months old, I started up daycare again, and I'm about to hit my 6-month mark of being in business. I really hate it most days!.. and I find it extremely difficult to provide daycare while also being there for my son. I feel sad and guilt because he seems unhappy more often than not during daycare hours. I don't know if it's because I only have younger kids right now (that age group is all I ever get calls for) and he's just not interested in playing with them, or if it's something else.

Ah, I just don't know what to do. I'm tired and crabby all the time, and my son doesn't seem happy either

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Could you change your days and/or hours of operation? This helped me a lot.

[childcaremom]

Originally Posted by LeslieG

I was a daycare provider for 3 years before I had my first child. Yes, there were plenty of days that I had my patience tested and didn't like my job, but most days I liked what I did and could see myself doing daycare for many years.

After my son was born, I closed my daycare (because we were moving out of state) and took 18 months off of daycare. I was a stay-at-home mom during that time. I think that was hard for me because we were living in a new area (so didn't know many people) and I was dealing with slight postpartum depression.

So when my son was 18 months old, I started up daycare again, and I'm about to hit my 6-month mark of being in business. I really hate it most days!.. and I find it extremely difficult to provide daycare while also being there for my son. I feel sad and guilt because he seems unhappy more often than not during daycare hours. I don't know if it's because I only have younger kids right now (that age group is all I ever get calls for) and he's just not interested in playing with them, or if it's something else.

Ah, I just don't know what to do. I'm tired and crabby all the time, and my son doesn't seem happy either

I found it VERY difficult to do daycare when my kids were part of my daycare. It got much easier once they were school aged.

Can you get out for walks/outings right after the kids go? Wake up early so you have time for the two of you to have breakfast together before the dcks come? (or switch up your hours so that you do have the time?) Can you cut back to part time?

I wish you luck!

[LysesKids]

Originally Posted by LeslieG

I was a daycare provider for 3 years before I had my first child. Yes, there were plenty of days that I had my patience tested and didn't like my job, but most days I liked what I did and could see myself doing daycare for many years.

After my son was born, I closed my daycare (because we were moving out of state) and took 18 months off of daycare. I was a stay-at-home mom during that time. I think that was hard for me because we were living in a new area (so didn't know many people) and I was dealing with slight postpartum depression.

So when my son was 18 months old, I started up daycare again, and I'm about to hit my 6-month mark of being in business. I really hate it most days!.. and I find it extremely difficult to provide daycare while also being there for my son. I feel sad and guilt because he seems unhappy more often than not during daycare hours. I don't know if it's because I only have younger kids right now (that age group is all I ever get calls for) and he's just not interested in playing with them, or if it's something else.

Ah, I just don't know what to do. I'm tired and crabby all the time, and my son doesn't seem happy either

How about Advertising for ages 2 to 4 years and offer a mini preschool type environment... your son will have kids his age & they all get to learn together - it doesn't have to be real formal. I don't take older kids, I take under 2's only but I'm an empty nester now also.

When I first started I took older kids in order for my youngest to have playmates but as she grew up, I lowered my ages. (there was 8.5 year gap between her & the next oldest lol). The beauty of this career is you can change it to fit you... now that I'm a grandma, babies are just fine lol

[itchyfeet]

What is it that's not working for you?
Is it guilt because you want to be solely committed to your child?
Are you not getting enough self care time?
Are the personalities of the kids too clashy? Maybe difficult families?
The fact that you've loved it before, and that it's so flexible means there will be a pathway through this....it's just a matter of figuring out what element needs to change for different results...